Agnès Fleury, Departamento de Médicina Genomica y Toxicidad Ambiental, Unidad Periférica de Neuroinflamación, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suarez; Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Unidad de Neuroinflamación; Consulta Externa, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suarez; Ciudad de México, México
Antonio Arauz, Dirección General, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suarez; Clínica de Enfermedad Vascular Cerebral, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía Manuel Velasco Suarez. Ciudad de México, México
Background: Neurological disorders are among the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. National-level data on the neurological workforce are essential, particularly in the context of the World Health Organization Intersectoral Global Action Plan on Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorders 2022-2031. Objective: The study aimed to describe the distribution, practice settings, diagnostic resources, and research training of neurologists in Mexico. Methods: We integrated the 2024 public registry of neurologists certified by the Mexican Board of Neurology (CMN) to calculate state- and region-level densities, along with an online cross-sectional survey (October 2024-February 2025) distributed to members of the CMN and the Mexican Academy of Neurology. We assessed the density of subspecialty-trained neurologists, the availability of diagnostic resources in public institutions, and indicators of research training. Results: National neurologist density was < 1/100,000 inhabitants, with marked disparities (Mexico City: 5.74/100,000 vs. southwest: 0.19/100,000). The survey achieved a 45% response rate (n = 526). Regional gaps in subspecialty training and diagnostic access were substantial. Only 26% of respondents held a master’s degree, 7% a PhD, and 9% were members of the National System of Researchers (SNII). Conclusion: Mexico faces a critical shortage and uneven distribution of neurologists and diagnostic resources.
Keywords: Neurology workforce. Health services. Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders. Mexico. Diagnostic access.